MAKING his first appearance in Albert Square in March 2021, James Farrar has become a true fixture on the box.
The EastEnders actor admitted he gave up his modelling career to be with his mother who is battling cancer.
James Farrar has become a familiar face on BBC One as Zack Hudson
The Zack Hudson star gave up a thriving modelling career for the soap
His character has been involved in many dramatic storylines
Hunky chef Zack Hudson first met his half-sister Sharon Watts in 2021 during their father’s, Gavin Sullivan, funeral.
The long-lost siblings initially bonded over their common hatred for Gavin.
Since then, James Farrar has been a familiar face on screens as his alter ego became involved in many dramatic storylines, including a rocky relationship with Maddy Hill’s Nancy Carter.
But before he was known as Zack to BBC One viewers, James was balancing his life on TV with a promising modelling career – which he eventually chose to give up to fully commit to EastEnders.
Speaking to TV Mag, James recalled his time as a model which involved travelling all around the world.
“Prior to this job I was a model and flying to Milan, then to New York, then to Paris”, he said.
“I think it was a blessing that I took the job on EastEnders because Summer, my little baby, wouldn’t have arrived if I was still doing the silly hours and travelling I was doing with modelling.”
James was also encouraged to take on his role in the soap for another, sadder reason.
“One of the reasons I joined EastEnders was because of my mum, who has cancer.”
Knowing his modelling career often brought him out of the country and away from his mother, James decided she was worth the sacrifice.
“It meant that if these are my last days with her, we spent them together rather than me travelling the world.”
Thankfully, James’ mother is “smashing it” after having gone through her chemotherapy treatment.
“She’s smashing it, she’s got the grit of a warrior”, he added.
“She’s through the chemo, smashed her radiotherapy and now we’ve just got to get through the five years remission.”
Many soap fans would be surprised to know Zack Hudson isn’t James’ first role on the soap.
In 2011, he secured himself a spot in the Square as a character named Brendan for one episode.
His TV credits also include a one-year stint in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks as Liam Gilmore, as well as appearances in Silent Witness, Doctors and Call The Midwife.
After a fast-paced routine in modelling, James is happy to settle into Walford – for his mother as well as his baby.
The 34-year-old announced he and his wife Ali Roff, whom he proposed to during a trip to Tuscany, welcomed their first child in November, 2021 – a girl named Summer.
You can read the full interview with James Farrar in TV Mag, available exclusively with HOAR every Saturday.
James Farrar and his wife Ali welcomed their first child in November, 2021
And while the actor enjoys parenthood, he admitted he gave up his modelling career for his mother
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